Ijima’s Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus ijimae, (also
called Ijima’s Warbler, Ijima’s Willow Warbler, Izu Leaf-Warbler) breeds
on the Izu and
Tokara islands
in the southern Japanese Archipelago. The breeding islands are small;
the breeding population is also small, estimated at 2,500 to 10,000.
This warbler qualifies as Vulnerable(BirdLife International)
because of its small, declining and severely fragmented population
resulting from loss of habitat (broad-leaved evergreen forest),
potentially compounded by pesticide use.
Its wintering range is poorly understood; there are sparse records from
Japan, Taiwan (1, Hualien County, March 1960; 2, Puli,
Taichung
County, December 1924; 2 in 2006; see below) and the Philippines.

Observers should watch for and report sightings of this bird, to
contribute to better understanding of its seasonal movements.

Description: The breeding adult has a rather long orange bill
with dark brown culmen; greenish-grey crown and nape; whitish broken eye
ring; thin buff supercilium extending to the rear ear coverts; medium green
upperparts; bright green wings and tail with obvious contrast between the
green of the wing and brown primary coverts. Underparts are white with
greyish wash on the sides of the neck and flanks; yellowish undertail
coverts. Legs are pale. The key to identification in the non-breeding
season is the call; a loud, melodic “twee” very different from the
distinctive metallic “dzik” of Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus
borealis and soft “phit phit” of the Eastern Crowned Warbler
Phylloscopuscoronatus.

These photographs were taken by Liao Pen-Shing on April 9, 2006,
at Yehliou, Taipei County. Mr. Liao noted the presence of another Ijima’s
Leaf-Warbler, for a few days, approximately September 23–25, 2006,
also at Yehliou. Yeliou Scenic Area, a known “migrant trap”, is a long,
narrow spit of land extending from
Taiwan’s
northeast coast.